FlashMQ

At a glance

• Editor score
  7.0 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Free, single-node MQTT with persistent sessions
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Deployment model
  Self-hosted
• Facts checked
  14 Nov 2026

• Where it wins

  • Supports MQTT 3.1, 3.1.1, and 5.0 with QoS 0–2.
  • Persists sessions, subscriptions, and retained messages.
  • Offers TLS, X.509 client verification, and plugin or password-file authentication.

• Where it doesn't

  • Runs as self-hosted Linux broker software.
  • Does not provide clustering; bridging is not clustering.
  • The broker download has no listed official pricing page.

Our verdict on FlashMQ

FlashMQ is downloadable, open-source MQTT broker software for Linux servers, designed for high message and connection volumes. It suits teams that want to run a broker themselves, from small deployments to enterprise environments, and need persistent sessions or retained-message state. The broker also supports ARM binaries for constrained environments. A separately managed hosting service is described by the vendor, but the broker itself is the self-hosted product here.

Protocol and connection features cover MQTT 3.1, 3.1.1, and 5.0, QoS levels 0, 1, and 2, and WebSocket listeners. It can retain messages and persist retained-message state, sessions, and subscriptions. For access controls, authentication can use plugins or a Mosquitto password file; TLS and X.509 client certificate verification are also supported. MQTT bridging lets operators connect brokers, but the configuration manual distinguishes that from clustering. That makes FlashMQ a fit for single-node use cases, not a substitute for a clustered broker when clustering is required.

As open-source downloadable software, FlashMQ has a free plan, and no paid broker tiers are specified. The vendor describes managed hosting separately, so buyers comparing self-hosting with hosted operations should evaluate that service as a distinct offering. Choose FlashMQ if Linux self-hosting, persistent sessions, retained state, and standard MQTT protocol coverage are central requirements. Look elsewhere if the deployment depends on broker clustering or requires a listed integration ecosystem beyond the documented authentication and bridging capabilities.

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FlashMQ pricing

FlashMQ fact sheet

Alternatives to FlashMQ

• AIAWS IoT CoreA managed MQTT broker with device tools and message routing for AWS-centric IoT systems.9.4
• AEAzure Event Grid MQTT brokerA managed MQTT broker with Azure routing, flexible authentication, and usage-based pricing.9.2
• ABApache BifroMQA self-hosted broker with clustering, distributed storage, and support for MQTT 3.1 through 5.0.9.1

See all FlashMQ alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

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Last updated 14 Nov 2026 · How we research and update